Bishkek, October 19, 2024 — The Europe Today: Deputy Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, Nurbek Sydygaliev, engaged in a constructive meeting with the Ambassador of the United States to Kyrgyzstan, Lesslie Viguerie. The discussions focused on enhancing political dialogue, expanding inter-parliamentary cooperation, and strengthening trade and economic relations between Kyrgyzstan and the United States, as reported by the press service of the Kyrgyz Parliament.
During the meeting, Sydygaliev expressed Kyrgyzstan’s keen interest in attracting U.S. investments, particularly through initiatives offered by the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and USAID. He highlighted the vast potential for collaborative projects in sectors such as the green economy, creative industries, and information technology. “Attracting direct investment to Kyrgyzstan is essential for our growth and development,” he emphasized.
Ambassador Viguerie acknowledged the presence of several major American companies operating in Kyrgyzstan and expressed interest in furthering cooperation in key areas, including information technology, the construction of hydroelectric power plants, and agriculture.
The Deputy Speaker also raised the issue of extending Kyrgyzstan’s status in the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP+), which would enhance trade opportunities. He expressed gratitude for the U.S. decision to extend the validity of visas to 10 years on a parity basis, and proposed the consideration of extending the validity of student visas, as well as adding Kyrgyzstan to the list of countries eligible for H-2 work visas.
Furthermore, given the increasing number of Kyrgyz citizens traveling to the United States, Sydygaliev suggested the possibility of establishing a direct flight between the two countries to facilitate travel and strengthen ties.
